| Popis: |
Tourism industry is one of the fastest growing industries globally, with an economic contribution that is unquestionable in both developed and developing countries. However, the growth in tourism is also associated with a growth in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the tourism value chain, worsening the disaster of climate change. The tourism industry is dependent on the climate in many settings. To understand the current and future of the tourism industry, in the context of climate change, it is critical to understand the perceptions, knowledge and attitude of the tourism industry’s main stakeholders, the tourists. This paper examines the stated aspects in the context of the Okavango Delta, Botswana. The study made use of an online survey, involving 155 tourists across the world, and secondary data. Analysis of data was done using QuestionPro analytics, Microsoft Excel ToolPak and Content Analysis. The results show that tourists are increasingly becoming more knowledgeable about climate change disaster. However, some practices and actions by tourists contribute towards the build-up of GHG emissions that drive climate change disaster. Tourists felt that climate change was worsened by ignorance, lack of education and poor global political leadership. Tourists believe that climate change is a threat to the water flow in the Okavango Delta, which has a negative effect on flora and fauna, as evidenced by the decline in bird-life species and other animal populations over the years. The study recommends increased environmental awareness interventions among tourism role players to foster greater climate resilience and more research to cover the knowledge gaps. |
